Miriam DuBose Ford

LEXINGTON -Miriam DuBose Ford went to heaven on February 6, 2016 from complications of a stroke she suffered almost a year ago. The family will receive friends on February 10, 2016 from 9:30am to 11:00am followed by the Funeral service at 11:30am at Mt. Horeb United Methodist Church, 1205 Old Cherokee Rd, Lexington, SC 29072. Graveside service will be held at 2:00pm at Sumter Cemetery, 700 West Oakland Ave., Sumter SC, 29150.

Born in Sumter SC, she was the youngest of 6 children born to the late Robert Fleetwood DuBose Sr. & Rena Rich DuBose. Miriam, Red, Ford, Mom or Mimi, all names she was known by to her family and friends, but mostly she was known for the love that she shared with anyone she came in touch with. She shared, she gave and she loved every moment on this earth. She was a shining light everywhere she went.

She began her well known fashion career at the Capital Department Store in Sumter SC. After her sons, Wilburn “Vic” Victor and Kenneth “Ken” Brooks were born she moved from Sumter to Columbia bringing with them, dear friend and 2nd mother to the boys, Annie McCall. From there she made her mark on fashion in the midlands area. Working as head buyer for Berry’s on Main for many years and traveling all over the United States enjoying life and making new friends everywhere! She knew everything there was to know about New York City from fashion to diamonds and the best places to stay and of course the best places to drink or dine. She has the match book from EVERY single place to prove it! If she doesn’t have the match book, she has the cocktail stirrer.

After many years with Berry’s on Main, Miriam partnered and managed Pat’s Place at the then brand new Columbia Mall. She put together numerous fashion shows for every cause imaginable. She had the best models, the best clothes but more importantly she had fun. Anyone honored to be around her had plenty of fun!

Next she managed a specialty petite store called Petite Collections, back when no one really specialized in petite fashions. Making her mark once again, she decided it was time for her to open her own place and Miriam’s Petites & Missy Fashions was born. Lexington South Carolina would never be the same place again. She rented the store at 142 Ellis Ave and got busy. She didn’t just sell clothing, she was so much more than a store owner, she was a pillar in the Lexington Community.

In her own words, from an article written for the Lexington Leaders (by Jackie Perrone)

“Lexington has been good to me” Lexington can certainly return the compliment as the town has benefited from 20+ years from this citizens’ community involvement & volunteerism. Anyone who’s worked with Sertoma, Ducks Unlimited, Christ Central Ministries, The Greater Lexington Chamber of Commerce, or just about any other civic organization has met Miriam. She jumps in enthusiastically wherever there’s a need, giving her time and energy to make a better community. “I like being involved. Everyone can do something to make this a better place.”

Her brand of personal service has made her shop a favorite for loyal customers. “I treat every customer like someone who would be a guest in my home” One of her best- known activities is Men’s Night Out, held during the Christmas shopping season. The guest list has included congressmen and civic leaders, who come in for catered refreshments while they get advice on gifts for the women in their lives.

Miriam was a board member of Samantha’s Well, Chris Myers, Inner City Missionaries which later became Christ Central Ministries from the beginning and for almost 23 years. In addition to being a board member and volunteer, she was a master recruiter for her causes and was never shy about asking for someone to give their time and their money for something she believed in. She helped feed the homeless at Christ Central for years. On occasion she would bring her children and grandchildren along to help. She was honored to receive many awards for her time and service but one of her most treasured awards came from the Ruritan Club of Lexington when they gave her the Good Samaritan Award. Anyone who knew Miriam knew she was a well-deserved recipient for such an honor.

Miriam spent so many wonderful times with friends and her community but her most precious time was spent with her family. She took care of everyone and everything, nothing too big or too small for her. Her mother, her sister, her lifelong friends were all blessed to have had Miriam help them in their time of need. She lived strong and she loved strong and she loved her sons & daughter-in-laws Sharonkay Ford & Deborah Stafford but boy oh boy did she ever love her grandchildren!! John Thomas, Erica Emery, Shannon Noel and Dylan DuBose Ford were her whole life. She never missed a ball game or banquet or beauty pageant or karate class, you name it, she was there. She would take all the grandkids to the beach every summer for a week. Oh the stories we could tell and the memories that we all have from those wonderful times together.

She was an amazing cook, known best for her delicious BBQ Turkey and homemade Mac-N-Cheese. She enjoyed so many special times with friends at her Lake Murray home, known better as Happy Ours PM. She loved her 4 legged babies, Sassy & Chaka and spoiled them to pieces. She had a lot of best friends and they all loved having her at their birthday parties, showers, weddings, tailgating events, graduations and even funerals. She rarely ever turned down an invitation or missed being there for family or friends.

Her family would like to say thank you to the wonderful, professional and kind staff of Lexington Medical Center Extended Care Camilla Court staff and care givers. You became family to Mimi and to us. Her lifelong friends, Pastor Jimmy, John & Eleanor, Richard & Melba, Maxine & Vic and too many more to name, we couldn’t have made it through this past year without your support and guidance. With all our heart we thank you.

She was predeceased by her sister, Myrtle Brunson and brothers, Eugene DuBose, Robert Fleetwood DuBose Jr, Brooks DuBose and Oscar DuBose.

Memorials may be made to Christ Central Ministries, 2401 Main Street, Columbia, SC 29201 or to a charity of one’s choice.

Family and friends may sign the online guest book at Caughman-Harman Funeral Home, Lexington Chapel.

www.caughmanharmanfuneralhome.net